Express Yourself! A Day of Stories, Creativity, and Culture
Join us on Saturday, April 26 for vibrant day of literary and cultural events in partnership with the Montclair Literary Festival
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Step into a world of words, movement, and powerful voices on April 26 at Express Yourself!, a vibrant day of literary and cultural events in partnership with the Montclair Literary Festival. Open to students, faculty, staff and the wider community, this celebration invites everyone to engage and explore the richness of storytelling in all its forms.
From the raw and personal narratives of a student story slam to the powerful oral histories shared through The Human Library, Express Yourself! is a day where diverse perspectives come to life. Connect with published Latinx and Hispanic authors in an engaging book discussion, celebrate the creativity of alumni writers across genres, and dive into the process of adapting literature for the screen. Student choreographers will take the stage, using movement as a form of storytelling, adding another dynamic layer to the day’s festivities.
In celebration of Montclair’s commitment to literary and cultural expression, we are proud to co-sponsor Montclair Literary Festival events both on campus through Express Yourself! and in downtown Montclair on May 3. With 24 Festival events taking place on campus on April 26, attendees will have even more opportunities to engage with renowned authors, explore new ideas, and exchange perspectives that challenge, inspire, and connect us.
Whether you’re drawn to the stage, the page, or the power of shared experience, Express Yourself! and the Montclair Literary Festival events offer an open invitation to experience the impact of stories—how they shape us, challenge us, and bring us together.
Join us for a day filled with creativity, dialogue, and inspiration—where every voice has a place.
Home Reimagined: Identity, Family, and Belonging
10:00 – 11:00 a.m., Cohen Lounge, Dickson Hall, room 178
What does it mean to create a home when the place we come from no longer feels like home? How do we redefine belonging within our families, communities, and within ourselves? In this thought-provoking discussion, writers Alejandro Heredia and Erika Morillo explore the ways migration, displacement, and personal transformation shape our understanding of home. Through photography, storytelling and critical reflection, they examine how individuals navigate familial expectations, cultural shifts, and the necessity of self-invention to thrive in ever-evolving spaces. Moderated by Cleyvis Natera, this conversation will invite attendees to consider how home is not just a place, but an ever-shifting relationship between identity, memory, and possibility.
Explore your World: Voices from Bolivia
11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m., Feliciano School of Business (SBUS), room 140
A unique, one-day, three-part event in conjunction with the 2025 Montclair Literary Festival, celebrating connection, creativity, and cultural exchange through the lens of Bolivia.
Part I: The Journey Begins – Gallery Walk
Step into an immersive, interactive “gallery walk” featuring photographs and videos collected by our special guests during a 2024 trip to Bolivia. The exhibit recreates the group’s travel itinerary in the form of a loop or circle, inspired by Erlini Chove’s woven mandala El tejido de la vida (“The Web of Life”). Visitors will be invited to explore and reflect, as if walking the path themselves.
Part II: Live Keynote from Bolivia – Erlini Chove
Erlini Chove (Erlini Tola Medina), a Bolivian artist and community expert who guided part of the Bolivia journey, will join us live from Bolivia to share the wisdom behind el tejido de la vida. She will speak about honoring our life paths—wherever we are in the world—as individuals and as part of a greater collective. Through her artwork and personal reflections, Erlini will guide the audience in creating their own tejido de la vida: a symbolic drawing of the people, memories, and elements that weave our lives together.
Part III: Reflection Circle & Celebration
We’ll close with a bilingual (Spanish-English) reflection circle, where trip participants share key insights and stories from their journey. Audience members will be invited to join the conversation with questions, reflections, and comments.
The event will conclude with a festive gathering featuring Bolivian music, food, and opportunities for connection—to nurture new relationships and a growing community.
The Human Library
11 a.m. – 3 p.m., Addie’s Lounge and Waichungo Courtyard, University Hall First Floor
The Human Library provides an opportunity for students, faculty, and community members to participate in a powerful, community-engaged experience. “Human Books” share oral histories of their experiences with stigmas and stereotypes while “Readers” drop in to the event to listen and learn. Through intimate, short conversations, participants engage in dialogue to learn more about the diversity of lived- experiences that collectively contribute to our shared identity. Sign up as a “Human Book” (here by 4/19) to share your own experience at the event or stop by as Reader to #unjudgesomeone. This event runs from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m., Addie’s Lounge and Waichungo Courtyard, University Hall First Floor. Learn more about this international, non-profit organization here.
Dance Makers 2025
2:00 p.m., Life Hall Studio Theatre 1200
Come see the next generation of dance makers! In this curated dance concert, Montclair State student choreographers bring their individual and distinct creativity to the stage.
Price: $15 Standard | $12 Senior Citizen
Purchase Tickets Here
Montclair Film’s StorySLAM
4:00 – 5:30, Brantl Hall, Dickson Hall, room 177
Presented in partnership with Montclair Film, StorySLAM comes to campus to showcase the lived-experiences and identities of Montclair State students. This performance will include 6-minute stories, written and performed by 10 Montclair state students. Raw, witty, and profound– listen to students’ stories of cultural diversity and identity. This new and exciting collaboration brings Montclair Film’s Duncan Miller to Montclair State as he coaches student storytellers and hosts the event. Students may sign up to perform here no later than April 10.
The Next Chapter: Alumni Authors Tell All
5:30 – 6:30 p.m., Cohen Lounge, Dickson Hall, room 178
Join English Department alumni authors for a series of readings of their works and panel discussion with faculty.
- Casey Masterson ’21, author of the horror short story collection Revelations of the Raven Master, currently at work on a novel.
- Priyanka Taslim ’14, author of the novel The Love Match and the forthcoming Always Be My Bibi.
- Caleb Knight ’22, currently attending Columbia University’s MFA program on full scholarship
From Page to Picture: Adapting Books for Screen
3:30 – 4:30 p.m., Presentation Hall, School of Communication and Media
Join acclaimed writers for a free panel discussion exploring the journey from books to screen adaptations. The distinguished panel features:
- Brendan Deneen, author of “The Chrysalis“
- Caren Lissner, author of “Carrie Pilby“
- Thaddeus Rutkowski, author of “Tetched“
The conversation will be moderated by Susan Shapiro, author of “Five Men Who Broke My Heart.”
To Create is Human?
10 – 11:00 a.m., University Hall room 1010
The Past is Prologue
10 – 11:00 a.m., University Hall room 1030
The Political is Personal
11:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m., University Hall room 1010
Family Drama
11:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m., University Hall room 1030
Rooted in New Jersey
12:30 – 1:30 p.m., University Hall room 1030
Thrillers: Double Jeopardy
12:30 – 1:30 p.m., University Hall room 1010
Next Generation Stars
1:45 – 2:45, University Hall room 1030
Uncovering the Truth
1:45 – 2:45, University Hall room 1010
Voices of Tomorrow: Creative Writing Readings from High School Students
1:45 – 2:45, University Hall room 1020
Lights, Camera, Drama
3:00 – 4:00, University Hall room 1030
The Nature of Illness
3:00 – 4:00, University Hall room 1010
Literature’s Rising Stars: Montclair State Creative Writing Award Readings
3:00 – 4:00, University Hall room 1020
Fairy Tales and Fantasy
4:15 – 5:15, University Hall room 1030
Crime as History
4:15 – 5:15, University Hall room 1010